Boys Basketball: Norristown knocks down Penn Wood

WEST NORRITON — After a crushing defeat, it could be easy to just lie down. With the chances of winning another District One title out the window, some would think that Norristown had nothing to play for. However, no one on the Eagles’ team would concede that fact, nor did their play Friday night dictate any different.

Norristown rises up to defeat Penn Wood 73-59.

“We just don’t want to go home,” Norristown guard Luke Kelley said. “Getting into states is our goal, and we’ll just see what we can do from there.”

A team with renewed energy took the court on Friday completely unlike the one that expected to roll right through Ridley on Tuesday. Their tempo lifted, defense changed, determination in their eyes, Norristown came to prove their season wasn’t over.

“Refuse to lose, that’s our motto,” Norristown coach Mike Evans said.

Penn Wood had no intentions of making it easy though. A fantastic shooting team throughout the season, Penn Wood struggled from the field in the loss to fifth seeded Abington. Norristown took this cue and play the first 2-3 zone they’ve implemented in ages, and it worked.

“The zone was used to forced their shot, they had to make those shots if they wanted to beat us,” Evans said.

Norristown’s defense was some of the best they’ve played all season, and one of their main drawbacks — starting slow or ending sluggish — was nonexistent. They played 32 minutes in its entirety and never gave visiting Penn Wood a chance.

Penn Wood leading scorer Tyree Bynum still managed to put up 20 points, but struggled from range, going two for six from behind the arc.

When asked about the inconsistent shooting, Jones said his team “was suffering from the stage and the moment,” and in the playoffs “the shots mean so much and we start hunting for them.”

Penn Wood only had five makes from three.

After only holding a three-point lead after the first quarter, Norristown’s offense exploded in the second, and back on defense they kept Penn Wood to only three shots from the field. Norristown scored 18 points in the second and led 29-18 at the half. Penn Wood came out firing in the second half, but Norristown had all the answers and maintained a 14-point lead through the second half.

After every loss this season, Norristown has bounced back and won stunning victories. In the four games after losses this season, Norristown averages 16.75 points more than their opponents.

The secret? It is a word that Allen Iverson knew all too well.

“We had a really great practice the day after the loss (to Ridley),” Kelley said. “It was championship quality, we were sweating, we were motivated, and we brought that energy into the game tonight.”

“I was really sore about that loss,” said Norristown forward Josh Johnson. “We have a lot of seniors who don’t want to stop playing, so at practice we put it all it behind us and played hard.”

Penn Wood, in defeat, had their season come to a close on Friday. However, Coach Jones was optimistic, spending nearly 45 minutes talking to his team after the game had ended, pointing out the fundamentals he thought they were “poor in all season,” but he had a lot to be pleased with.

“Losing our point guard put everyone in a different position, it made it difficult for some guys to step into that leadership position,” Jones said.

Senior point guard Jerry Price was dismissed mid-season as a result of tumultuous relationship that occured through various transgression resulting in his suspension from the team. Bynum, one of three graduating seniors, stepped up in Price’s place and led his team in scoring.

“Overall, I feel great with the development of this team,” Jones said. “We had everyone on the team except one start a game this season, and I’m optimistic of the team next year, we’ll be back.”

Norristown will face Harriton, who lost to Strath Haven, on Tuesday at home. With two more wins, Norristown will earn their bid to the state tournament.

“There’s a lot of good teams in states,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to see how we stack up against them when we’re playing our best.”